At a glance … record label controversy over profane lyrics overshadows what turns out to be Webb's most creative record to date.

I have to admit I am a bit biased when it comes to Derek Webb. Listening to him rant about Christians' lackluster production of art before performing a mundane, I-IV-V chord ditty of his own a few years back, I couldn't care less what the sensational singer has to say, much less sing about. But after receiving an e-blast about his record label snafu in the spring, and trying my darnedest to be a good, objective critic, I couldn't help but read the press releases; download the documentary-styled EPK, Paradise is a Parking Lot; peruse the digital booklet, and wade through both the "clean" version of Stockholm Syndrome, set to be released through INO this fall, and the "explicit" version, available through Webb's website now.

You may have heard the ruckus over Webb's seventh and most controversial release, which boils down to a couple of lines from one song, "What Matters Most":

We can talk and debate it until we're blue in the face / About the language and tradition that he's coming to save / Meanwhile we sit just like we don't give a s*** / About 50,000 people that are dying today

At least that's the easily identifiable offense.

In the same song, Webb tackles Christians' judgment of homosexuals: You say you always treat people like you like to be / I guess you love being hated for your sexuality, and follows suit in verse 2: If I can tell what's in your heart by what comes out of your mouth / Then it sure looks to me like being straight is all it's about. Though an insightful ...

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